PAIN AND GAIN, R ( 2 hr & 9 min )

-

I went to see this yesterday, Monday, April 29th, 2013, here in Vallejo, CA, at the CENTURY 14 VALLEJO, for the 10:30 p.m. show in auditorium 7, 7th row ( counting from the front ), 7th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $10.00. I bought a bag of Chocolate-covered Peanuts ( $1.65 ) and a 1-litre bottle of Dasani Water ( $4.50 ) at the concessions counter.

Quickie Review: One Hard Prick Refuses To Weaken While In The Hands Of Bad Guys And While Being Beaten Constantly!

Three covetous bodybuilders decide that they want to live the "good life" by resorting to abduction, extortion, torture and murder. But their "get-rich-quick" scheme falls apart soon enough because of their poor planning, execution and incompetence! Based on a true story.

The audience of about five ( 5 ) people liked this movie.

I liked this movie. But, of course, I enjoyed it for the sheer stupidity of the bad guys, not for the pain and suffering their victims ( i.e. the innocent victims in real life ) were forced to endure. Go see this movie if you're into "True Crime" movies.

I liked the Sports Car Sex scene.

And I liked the Accept Jesus Christ scene.

********************************************

After my 8:30 a.m. chiropractic appointment, I went to deposit my cheque at the Chase Bank inside of the Food Maxx Supermarket on the corner of Tuolumne and Redwood Streets here in Vallejo, CA.

Then, I went to the American Canyon Safeway Supermarket to redeem my gas reward. I filled my car's gas tank, 'goes without saying.

And I went to the nearby Starbucks Coffee Shop to try and get on the Internet. But, for some reason, my Compaq Presario couldn't access the Internet. After about ten minutes or so of trying, I just gave up.

Then, I went to the Springstowne Post Office here in Vallejo to drop-off a couple of bill payments.

I then drove to the 99-Cent Only Store on Springs Road to buy a few things.

And I went to the Selecta Pilipino Buffet next door to have lunch and to buy some lottery tickets.

I went back home to rest-up while my food was being digested.

Before seeing this movie, I had a light meal at the MacDonald's Restaurant at the Target Shopping Center on Admiral Callaghan Lane as I checked and updated my blog posts.

At the theatre's box office, I asked the ticket clerk if they were sold-out on the IRON MAN 3 movies that will be shown on Thursday night. He said that they only sold ten ( 10 ) tickets for the 9:00 p.m. 3-D show, so far! But as tempted as I was, I decided not to buy a ticket for any of the Thursday night advanced screenings because of my bad experiences with the inconsiderate, irresponsible, disrespectful "Vallejo Crowd" through the years!

I will either see an IRON MAN 3 advanced screening in Emeryville, CA, or in Fairfield, CA. In this way, my viewing pleasure will not be spoiled by some lowlifes!

'Hear that, Vallejo? You have a bunch of lowlifes living in your city, I'm sorry to say.

As I was exiting the theatre, a female security guard was standing there in the main lobby waiting for me to leave. I asked her, Am I the last one? She said, "Yes." I said, Oh, wow ....


*

SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH, 2013=SAN FRANCISCO VACATION

So, today was the day that I decided to go back to Fisherman's Wharf to eat at Joe's Crab Shack--just for the "halibut" ( actually, I had a burger )!

Before I continue, let me just say that I had to go back to Vallejo, CA, on Friday, April 26th, because I didn't budget enough money for my San Francisco vacation and had to go back home to cash my check so I could have more spending money on hand. When I did the math, I found out that it would take about $150 per person each day to vacation in San Francisco, provided that one doesn't spend too much money on souvenirs and that one finds the cheapest hotel accommodation in the first place!

Now, I'm seriously considering taking-up someone's offer to stay free--or at a greatly reduced rate--at a fancier hotel in San Francisco.

When I left my condo, I decided to put in a gallon's worth of gas in my car's tank first. So, I headed for the Chevron Gas Station across from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom ( f.k.a. Marine World, Africa, USA ) on Fairgrounds Drive.

I was on Sereno Drive when I noticed in my rearview mirror a silver car that went around another car that stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Cima Drive. And the silver car then drove on the wrong side of the road, going about 45 mph in a 25 mph residential zone! He passed by me, a young black reckless, inconsiderate, irresponsible Dumbass Idiot male Driver! In all likelihood, he was the one who went around traffic on Fairgrounds Drive and drove a white pick-up truck across a red light last year. And he probably was the same one who drove on the wrong side of the road, on Fairgrounds Drive again, to cut me off some time last year, too!

As if that was not bad enough, an automotive cleaning products salesman accosted me at the Chevron Gas Station, very aggressively trying to get me to buy his stuff. I told him that I wasn't interested. It took a while for his harassment to stop, and for the obnoxious asshole to leave me along, as he began to notice that I was starting to get angry.

I got to the El Cerrito Del Norte Bart Station only to find out that the 10:10 a.m. Fremont-bound train had a mechanical problem. We, the passengers, all had to walk down from the platform and walk up to the opposite platform to catch the next train that had to be rerouted around the stalled train.

We waited for the San Francisco/Millbrae-bound train at the MacArthur Bart Station.

A man sat next to me with a coffee cup in his hand. I stopped drinking coffee four months ago back in December 28th of last year. I could smell his coffee, and it was making me nauseous!!! And four months was all it took for it to give me that kind of an adverse reaction to coffee.

I got off at Powell Street Bart Station. I walked up to Powell Street and Ellis Street when I should have gone the other way, Powell Street and Market Street--so much for common sense!

When I got to the waiting area around the Cable Car Stop, I realized then and there that weekends is not a good time to go to Fisherman's Wharf via Cable Car--too many tourists!!!

Of course, where there are tourists, there are beggars. One beggar, a young white man, had a cardboard sign which read: "I Need Weed." Can you believe the audacity ...! I wonder if the cop even saw him. And there was another beggar in a wheelchair who was obviously fast asleep, yet holding a cup; I put two quarters in his cup.

It took about 15 minutes or so for this Cable Car to move down from the corner of Ellis Street to this Cable Car Stop. In the picture, the driver, the conductor and a street cop are turning it around on the turn-table.

This picture shows three Cable Cars, near the corner of  Ellis Street, waiting for their turn to move down to the turn-table. In the distance, you can see the second Cable Car travelling up Powell Street.

-

This is the fourth Cable Car being turned around on the turn-table.

-

I boarded the fifth Cable Car because there were a whole lot of people ahead in line of me. As the Cable Car was travelling up Powell Street, some asshole near where I sat farted silently. Oh, Lord. The stench of it all. The conductor had to open some top windows for cross-ventilation. The Cable Car was so full of people that the conductor actually forgot to get my fare. When we got to the Fisherman's Wharf Cable Car Stop at around 1:48 p.m., I handed him the $6.00 fare as I said, You never gave me the chance to pay you. He thanked me and gave me a ticket stub, which was pointless to keep at that point. Anyway ....

So, I finally got to eat at Joe's Crab Shack. The time was approximately 2:00 p.m. when I got there. It is on the second floor of the building that you see below. I sat at the bar, for faster service. I ordered the "Joe's Surf and Turf Burger w/ Fries ( $11.59 ) with a side of Coleslaw ( $3.29 ) and a glass of water. The burger was huge--it could easily qualify as a junior "Dagwood Sandwich"! Ha, ha, ha. I left a $2.00 tip. For the amount of money I spent at this place, though, I could have eaten a Sunday dinner at a Chinese buffet restaurant.

-

I found this on Wikipedia. 

-

I went across the street from Joe's Crab Shack to look at the tour boats docked and waiting for tourists to board. The tours are for a one-hour trip on San Francisco Bay. I didn't have the time for such a trip as that wasn't on my "To-Do List" for the day.

This is the Cable Car Stop on Taylor and Bay Streets. The one in  the foreground was waiting for passengers to board. In the background is a Cable Car that had just unloaded its passengers.

-

This is on the corner of 4th and Mission Streets. I took this picture on my way to AMC Metreon to see TAI CHI HERO.

 -

I sat across from AMC Metreon's box office to start this blog. I had a half hour before the 4:40 show started.

-

-

There were only a few people who turned out for this movie. Nobody gave it a "Hands Clapper" ending.

I didn't particularly liked this movie, if only because I'm really tired of the wire-work ( i.e. wire-fu ) used extensively in this movie. Wait for this to come out as a DVD rental and watch it along with its 1st part, TAI CHI ZERO ( 2012 )--see my blog on it back in Oct. of last year-- in this two-part series.


Here are some things wrong in this movie: When the "monster" machine was dismantled, how were the pieces carted away, and how fast was it done"? That meal prepared for the prince was like an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet--and I wasn't even invited! Why wasn't I invited? Why would the prince release the inventive genius, especially with his invention of the "heaven's wings", when the prince could have hired his services to bolster the royal army's war machinery and weaponry? How long were they kept in prison for because that railroad ( many miles long and laid down in mountainous terrain ) would have taken a considerably long time to finish? The audience wasn't awed by the wire-work. In fact, some wire-work scenes elicited just the opposite reaction: People laughed at them. Please, don't ruin an otherwise good kung-fu movie with stupid wire-work! Most of Peter Stormare's lines were stupid, both in structure and in delivery. Who wrote his lines? And why didn't he suggest revisions to his lines, considering that he is an internationally-acclaimed actor?  He lost his "little horn" after he finally had sex! I guess that makes sense. Ha, ha, ha. I'm just surprised that he didn't ask for a cigarette afterwards. This is a preposterous "origin" story of Tai Chi!


After the movie, I went to the Far East Flea Market on Grant Avenue in Chinatown because I wanted to buy a Samurai set. Then, I saw the price: $29.95. I thought that it was being sold for only $19.95 when I visited this place on Tuesday of last week. I guess I read the price wrong. I bought a hat and a wallet, instead. I spent $7.16 on my purchase. Anyway, I'll definitely be coming back here to buy a Samurai set.

Then, I walked across the street to buy something at Eastern Bakery. I bought a 16.9 oz bottle of Kirkland Water and three pieces of Fruit and Nut Pastry for a quick snack on my walk back to the Bart Station. I spent $3.85 for this purchase.

I didn't see the Buddhist nun this time around.

Between Sutter and Post Streets, on Grant Avenue, I stopped to transfer my money and my cards into the new wallet as I sat on the edge of a white concrete planter.

And I made a left on Geary Street so that I could take this picture of the mannequins wearing optic yellow underwear:

Enjoy!

-

I didn't take a picture of the mannequins in the nearby window display of Harputs Union because they had already put skirts on them. Ha, ha, ha.

And I took this picture of the Chinese restaurant which I probably mistook for a Chinese buffet restaurant last year:

This is near the corner of Geary and Kearny Streets. I'm pretty sure that this was the Chinese buffet restaurant that I saw last year. Maybe, it changed ownership.

I got on a Bart train and proceeded on my way home. I took the Fremont-bound train to transfer to a Richmond-bound train. I got off at the 12th Street Oakland BART Station, instead of the 19th Street Oakland BART Station, the designated transfer station for the Richmond-bound train, thinking that I could beat the other Richmond-bound passengers to the better seats. Instead, I missed the Richmond-bound train by about a minute and had to wait another 15 minutes or so for the next Richmond-bound train to arrive! Because of it, I missed the chance to pig-out at the Empire Chinese Buffet in Richmond, CA, since they close at 9:30 p.m. and I would have gotten there well past the cut-off time.

When I got-off at El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station, I decided to have a meal at the Safeway Supermarket across the street from the train station.

-

I bought a fruit smoothie, a sandwich and a package of muffins for a total of $10.97. I sat in the dining area to eat my meal---Nope! I didn't eat all of the muffins; I only ate one.

When I got back to Vallejo, I swung by the Safeway Supermarket on Admiral Callaghan Lane to buy an ice cream, a couple of Cara-Cara Oranges and some Cookies. I spent $12.56 on my total purchase and I got another Safeway Gas Reward for a total of nine ( 9, i.e. 90 cents off per gallon on a one-time trip ) gas rewards. I met two co-workers while I was at this store, Mace and Shannon.

I will be sure to redeem all 9 of my gas rewards tomorrow when I go fill-up my Hyundai Accent's gas tank at the American Canyon Safeway Supermarket Gas Station.

*

THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2013=SAN FRANCISCO VACATION

I put two $5.00 bills in my left rear pocket's wallet to give to the Buddhist nun should I run into her today. Because I wanted to give her some more donation as a token of my heartfelt appreciation for the unexpected miracle and blessing that I received from Lord Buddha on Tuesday. I don't expect another miracle and blessing in exchange for it at all--it is just meant as a sincere show of thanks ( "Freely you have received, freely give." New Testament of The Bible, Matthew 10:8 ).

I left the hotel at around 9:25 a.m. and walked down Grant Avenue, determined to find the Chinese buffet restaurant that I was pretty sure I saw somewhere nearby sometime last year.

As I was approaching Sutter Street, I saw the Buddhist nun, dressed in gray, once again. She tried unsuccessfully to solicit some donation from a white tourist couple. She saw me walking down the street and we greeted each other. I stopped her so that I could give her some donation. I reached into my left back pocket to retrieve my wallet and to give her the ten bucks. She offered to give me another sandalwood bracelet, but I showed her the bracelet that she gave me three days ago to let her know that she didn't need to give me another one. She produced the donation booklet and asked me to write my name on the page ( second page, this time around ). I wrote my name down and then wrote 10 bucks as my donation. She wrote down 20 bucks, but I politely told her that I only donated 10 bucks. So, she started to write down 10 bucks as I turned and left.

Attention: If I have Buddhist readers out there, please feel free to write in the Comment Section at the bottom of this blog post exactly what the Kai Guang amulet is all about, including the bracelet and the name-and-donation entries portion of it. And why I, a non-Chinese/non-Buddhist, got an unexpected miracle and blessing from Lord Buddha, himself.

When I got to the corner of Geary Street, I made a left turn because Geary stretches for one more block and comes to an end at the base of Kearny Street. And I was determined to find that Chinese buffet restaurant, no matter what.

As I walked by Harputs Union ( 80 Geary Street ), I noticed that the two ( 2 ) female mannequins in their store display window not only had erect nipples but were also completely bottomless!!! All they had on were T-shirts! And they looked well-shaven, indeed. Ha, ha, ha. Of course, they weren't anatomically correct "down there"---Ahem! So, why do they have to have erect nipples in the first place? I ask once more.

Near Harputs Union is another clothing store with its store window displaying three ( 3 ) female mannequins wearing matching sets of see-through optic yellow-colored bra and panties!!! What are these, the official underwear of female tennis players?!?!?! They had better be because the only other possibility is that they are the official underwear of road crews and construction workers---Yuck!!! I think I'm gonna throw-up. Ahh ... I can't get that image out of my mind, gosh darn it! Ha, ha, ha---Snort!

I'm sorry that I forgot to take pictures of the mannequins because I was too preoccupied looking for the Chinese buffet restaurant. And, as it turned out, there was no Chinese buffet restaurant there at all! I guess that I suffered from a hunger-induced mirage last year when I "saw" that Chinese buffet restaurant.

I'm running low on my vacation budget and will resume my vacation post in two or three days. 'Time for me to rest-up and recover from the shin splints that I got from walking up and down hills.

On a different topic, I noticed three other things about my Acer C7 Chromebook:

1.) Even though it is just the right size and weight, this is not a practical computer to take on vacations because the only way that I could upload pictures to it is to keep my camera plugged into it as I upload the pictures, all the while my camera's batteries would just drain low on charge even when the computer is plugged into an electrical outlet. And it is a very slow and inefficient way of uploading pictures. I think that I will just have to buy a notebook that is supported by Microsoft, the kind with a "read-write" CD/DVD player ( for camera software upload ), to take with me on my future vacations.

2.) As I've said before, the Acer C7 Chromebook is just a portable heater with computer capabilities because it generates a lot of heat for its diminutive size. And it seems to work slower the hotter that it gets.

3.) And if you turn it off and unplug it from the wall, the battery will still drain low on charge if you don't close its lid.

*

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2013=SAN FRANCISCO VACATION

I left the hotel at around 9:45 a.m.

I wanted to sit and blog at the Starbucks Coffee Shop on the corner of Grant Avenue and Bush Street. But all the seats were taken. So, I decided to have an early start on my trip to Fisherman's Wharf via Cable Car.

-

As I walked down Grant Avenue, guess who I ran into? Yep, the Buddhist nun was coming up the street. She was dressed in a gray jacket and pants today; she was dressed in black yesterday and the day before. She and I smiled at and greeted each other.

From Grant Avenue, I turned right on Geary Street because I thought I saw a Chinese buffet restaurant here last year. I didn't see any. I turned left on Stockton Street to get to  O'Farrell Street because, maybe, that was where I saw the buffet restaurant. When I got to O'Farrell from Stockton, I turned left until I was close to Grant Avenue again and realized that there was no Chinese buffet restaurant to be found in that vicinity. I turned around and walked until I got to Powell Street where I turned left to go to the Cable Car passenger waiting area.

This is the Burger King Restaurant that I ate at last night.

-

The Burger King Restaurant, above, is near where people, local and tourists alike, get on or off the Cable Cars that go to and come back from Fisherman's Wharf. There was a long line of people waiting for the next Cable Car. In front of me was an elderly Chinese couple. I asked them if they knew how much the fare was. The lady couldn't answer me; her husband said, "I don't speak English." Yet, I understood him well--he didn't sound like he had an accent!!! Oh, well ....

It costs $6.00 for a one-way trip on a Cable Car, I soon found out. The photo of the Cable Car below is that of the one that I disembarked from, near Fisherman's Wharf. It is on the corner of Taylor and Francisco Streets.

-

Four blocks down is where Fisherman's Wharf is at.

-

There were two amphibious trucks parked at the side of the street, the "Ride The Ducks" tour trucks. I've got to check this out someday.

-

Below is the Fisherman's Wharf Ferry Terminal. The Vallejo ferry actually comes to port here, something I should consider when I decide to visit the wharf again.

-

This is a faraway view of Alcatraz Island from the wharf:

-

Below is the entrance to Pier 45:

-

I've never seen a submarine in real life before. So, I entered Pier 45 for a close-up look at the WWII veteran, USS Pampanito. She patrolled the Pacific Ocean six times during WWII and is credited with destroying six ( 6 ) Japanese Navy Ships and damaging ( 4 ) others.

-

Below is a memorial in honor of the brave submariners lost at sea during WWII. Although the submariners comprised the least in both manpower and war machinery in the Armed Forces, they suffered the most losses during the war. The black object at the foot of the memorial is a torpedo, by the way.

-

-

Below, you'll see one ( 1 ) battery cell and USS Pampanito's bronze propeller. The USS Pampanito had two batteries for underwater operation. And each battery had 126 ( !!! ) cells in it. Together, the two batteries added 208,000 pounds ( !!! ) to Pampanito's weight. The propeller is 7 ft., 9 1/2 in. in size and weighs 3,084 pounds. A male tourist remarked that the bronze propeller would command a hefty price on the black market today. ( Just in case you find out in the news that people are going around stealing old bronze propellers, you read it here first. Of course, if such bad guys can carry a heavy bronze propeller around, I'd hate to be the one to try to stop them. )

-

The poster below reads: "80 men. 75 days. No shower. See why we're smiling."

-

Below is another view of the USS Pampanito.

-

Liberty Ships were merchant marine ships mass-produced during WWII, built and ready for service in sixty ( 60 ) days or less! It was a mass production record then, which still holds to this day! The US churned them out faster than the German U-Boats could sink them; that was the plan--and it worked! Jeremiah O'Brien made eleven ( 11 ) roundtrips from England to the Normandy beachheads during the war.

-

The Jeremiah O'Brien was built in South Portland, Maine, in just 56 days, with the help of "Rosie, the Riveter." And she was launched on June 19, 1943.

-

The Jeremiah O'Brien, named after the first American Hero during the War for Independence, is the last  remaining ship from a convoy of ships that went to Normandy during WWII. Of the 6,939 armada of ships that stormed the beaches of Normandy,  SS Jeremiah O'Brien was the only large ship to return to Normandy in time for the 50th Anniversary Celebration back in 1994. She also saw action in the Pacific Theatre of War.

-

If you do a close-up of the photo below, you'll see to the right of the red lifesaver a painting on the gun turret of a topless lady. And, yes, she has erect nipples. Hey, it was chilly out today! Ha, ha, ha.

-

The poster below talks about how the SS Jeremiah O'Brien was retired and sent to the Mothball Fleet in the Suisun Bay of Benicia, CA. She sat there for decades and was saved from the scrap heap when she was turned into a WWII Floating Museum.

-

The poster below talks about the important role of SS Jeremiah O'Brien as a supply ship for the Allies in the Normandy campaign.

-

The poster below talks about SS Jeremiah O'Brien's new function as a floating museum and as a tour boat at certain times of the year.

-

The photo below shows the top part of the gang plank attached to the deck.

-

Below is a scale model representation of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien's sections. I actually thought that it was just a bench for tourists to sit on!

-

Do you remember the movie, TITANIC ( 1997 ), with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in it? Well, the ship engine shown in that movie is actually that of SS Jeremiah O'Brien's.

-

The two boards below show USS Pampanito's Battle Flag on the left and an explanation for how a submarine floats and submerges on the right.

-

The boards below lists all 56 submarines lost at sea during WWII on the left and shows the main parts of a submarine on the right.

-

I couldn't afford either of the above tours because I didn't bring enough money with me. So, I just enjoyed the free sights of both ships. Next, I went to Musee Mecanique to look at old arcade games. Funny, they have a picture posted on the front and rear doors with a man pointing at the restaurant across the street, Chowder Hut Grill, and a caption saying that the restrooms are behind that building. Of course, I went there--I had to!

Below is a photo of Fisherman's Wharf's Ferry Terminal in the background. In the foreground is the dining area of Chowder Hut Grill.

-

This was what I ordered for lunch: Spicy Fried Fish Sandwich w/ a side of Fries and a 23.6 oz bottle of Crystal Geyser, all for the price of $12.48 ( for this price, I could have eaten lunch at a Chinese buffet restaurant ). I ordered this meal because it didn't have any dairy in it that could possibly upset my stomach like the burger that I ate last night.

-

While I was eating my lunch, I saw a pigeon limping around because something was wrong with its right claw which was held in the closed position. Even though a sign read: "Don't Feed The Pigeons", I took pity on it and threw a French Fry near it. It flew to fetch the French Fry before a flock of other birds ( i.e. pigeons, crows and sea gulls ) could get to it. And there was a swarm of birds that came swooping down to the floor by my left foot! And that is probably how the restaurant workers can tell who has been feeding the birds and making the "feathered nuisances" poop all over their food establishment.  Oops, sorry .... My bad!

Having learned my lesson, I went back to eating my lunch. And the limping pigeon kept walking back and forth, back and forth, trying to get my attention and my sympathy once more. Meanwhile, a scrawny crow was just standing there looking at me, expecting some freebie, too!

After I finished my lunch, I took this photo of Musee Mecanique:

-

I took a photo of Chowder Hut Grill on my way back to the Cable Car Stop.

-

At the intersection of Taylor and Jefferson Streets, as I waited for the stoplight to turn green, I looked to my right and saw Joe's Crab Shack ( shown below ). Aah! this was the first thing that I went looking for the moment that I arrived here at Fisherman's Wharf. And I just had to discover it after I had lunch! Ooh, that made me so mad. Well, at least I now know where it is at. This will be my main objective the next time that I come visit Fisherman's Wharf--whenever that will be ( the last time that I was here was in 1994 ). Hopefully, a Chinese buffet restaurant will have taken over the location by then---LOL

-

I stopped at Oriental House Gifts and Silksware ( Is this even a word? ) because they seemed to have plenty of personalized California bicycle nameplates. I looked for my name but couldn't find it. A store clerk told me that they have more nameplates in the back of the store. And she handed me a list of names that are not on the spinner rack. My name wasn't even on that list even though I was named after one of the most famous men in military history! Go figure ....

-

Below is the intersection of Taylor and Bay Streets where a Cable Car is shown waiting to take passengers back to Powell and Market Streets.
-

-

When I got off the Cable Car, I made a right on Ellis Street from Powell Street to go looking for that Chinese buffet restaurant that I was sure I saw last year. There was no Chinese buffet on Ellis Street.

I walked up Grant Avenue on my way back to the hotel. On the corner of Geary Street sat a young woman breastfeeding her baby and begging for money. I gave her a dollar. She thanked me for my charity.

I took a photo of my hotel room's desk which has my Acer C7 Chromebook displaying my blogsite--a familiar sight by now to all of you, I hope. Right above it is my insulated lunchbag and hat resting on a shelf.

-

The wall-mounted hotel room TV screen by the door shows a Discovery Channel show about two men using animals to help them find oil in their own backyard. One man used a dog; the other man used a rooster. The man with the dog struck oil. "Loser, loser. Rooster dinner." Ha, ha, ha. I saw this whole episode last night, by the way, before I went to see THE SAPPHIRES.

-

I rested for a few hours before I went back to Far East Flea Market to buy another pick-up/reaching tool ( a blue-handled one this time ) to give to the Vallejo, CA, Selecta Pilipino Buffet Restaurant owner, as a gift since I know that he needs one. They also sell Samurai Swords at this flea market at bargain prices ( but they don't sell fleas, not even in lucite blocks ). I wanted to get a set of Samurai Swords but I'm not sure that BART Train officials would want to see me carry sharp Samurai Swords on board a train, especially during busy commute hours---Banzai!!! Ha, ha, ha.

Outside of the Far East Flea Market was a middle-aged Chinese beggar humming a loud sound as he shook a cup that he held in his right hand. I put two quarters in his cup. But the beggar neither looked up nor acknowledged my charitable act. I was offended by his irresponsible sense of entitlement!

I went to the Chinatown Food Court on the corner of Grant Avenue and California Street to have dinner. I ordered Steamed Rice with a 3-item combo of Sweet & Sour Pork, Chicken Curry and Tofu & Vegetables. And I had a 20.0 oz bottle of Deja Blue Water to go with my meal. I paid $10.48 for the whole thing.

After I ate my dinner, I went back to Eastern Bakery to buy a Puffed Pastry w/ Filling, a bag of crystallized Candy Melon and two pieces of some brown-colored sweet rice "thingy" that had to be heated first in their microwave. I paid $5.50 for everything. I ate the rice "thingy", the pastry and some of the crystallized Candy Melon as my idea of "dessert".

On my way back to the hotel, I purposely walked by the beggar. He looked up at me then as I walked by, but I just ignored him.

*

TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2013=SAN FRANCISCO VACATION

I didn't get much sleep last night.

I woke up at around 6:20 a.m. and proceeded to have a light breakfast ( in my room ) consisting of a banana, a handful of dried vegetable chips and two handsful of mixed nuts. I washed it all down with a bottle of tap water.

There was a mosquito in the room that followed me all around. I wondered how it got into my room. Then, I realized that I slightly opened the bathroom and the bedroom windows. But I didn't notice any mosquito bite on me at all.

Then, I brushed my teeth and shaved. I hopped into the shower using one of two courtesy guest soaps set on the glass counter by the lavatory sink.

When I stepped out of the shower to dry and comb my hair, I noticed something strange: There Were Still Two ( 2 ) Courtesy Guest Soaps Set On The Counter!!! I looked in the shower and saw that the soap that I just used was in the soap tray on the tiled shower wall. I looked in the trash receptacle next to the toilet bowl and the soap wrapper was in there, proving beyond all doubt that I wasn't imagining things. So, there could only be one of two explanations for this strange occurrence: Another soap miraculously appeared out of thin air OR ... the room service lady sneaked into the unlocked bathroom and quietly put a new replacement soap on the glass counter while I was busy taking a shower---I do not like my second explanation ( 'reminds me of the movie, PSYCHO ), do you? Hey! maybe it was the mosquito after all ....

And I think that whatever made the extra courtesy guest soap appear out of thin air was just hinting that I needed to soap myself up even more.

I took a photo of the bathroom glass counter before I stepped-out of the hotel. It's the one that you see below:

Barely visible on the right edge of the glass counter is the courtesy guest soap. The soap that miraculously appeared on top of this soap I put inside my toiletries bag that you see on the left. I'm keeping that one as a souvenir. In the background is the reflection of both the toilet bowl and the trash receptacle.

-

I left the hotel at a little after 9:00 a.m. And just a block down from my hotel, at the corner of Grant Avenue and Bush Street, was the Buddhist nun who gave me the amulet and the bracelet yesterday. She and I greeted each other. She asked for a donation. I showed her the bracelet on my right wrist and I pulled out the amulet from my chest pocket to let her know that I donated yesterday. I wondered what would have happened had I donated ten bucks yesterday. Two pieces of soap would have probably miraculously appeared! Thinking about the miracle that had just happened to me earlier today, I gave her $3.00 dollars ( the only amount left in my wallet because I hadn't replenished it yet--of course, I carry 3 wallets with me because of all my damn cards but I didn't tell her that ) and was about to walk to the financial district for my 9:15 a.m. appointment when she asked me to put my name in the donation booklet once again. It was a new page, and like the page in yesterday's donation booklet, the other donors donated more money than I did ( I'm talking 20s, 50s and even 100s from yesterday's donation booklet )! Wouldn't it be funny if the more generous donors found out that I became a recipient of an unexpected miracle even though I donated the least amount because Lord Buddha blest my donation and my name? I guess it's true that "it's the thought that counts." Anyway, the Buddhist nun offered me another amulet but I politely declined. I thanked her for the offer and walked on my way towards the financial district.

Hey, wait a minute ... shouldn't I have gotten a receipt from the nun for when I file my taxes for next year? Ha, ha, ha.

While I quietly sat paying attention to a procedure done during my appointment in the financial district, I couldn't help but think of the miracle that happened this morning. I said mentally to myself, Thank you, Lord, for always taking care of me even though I'm unworthy of your Divine Attention. But, please, Lord, there are others out there more worthy of your Divine Attention than my self. Please take care of them, too, like you take care of me.

When I went back to my hotel, the front desk clerk told me that the "all-you-can-eat" dim sum buffet restaurant is located on Jackson Street, just a short distance up the hill from Grant Avenue. Oh, goody! I told the clerk that I was on my way there, that I just had to drop-off my briefcase in my room.

I walked on Grant Avenue on my way to the dim sum buffet restaurant. But I had to stop in front of Lovell's Gallery to take the following photo:

This fake ( I hope! ) ivory carving is so intricate that I just had to show it to you guys. Some tourists stopped and admired this carving, too. 

-

The following photo is on Sacramento Street, just a little up the hill from Grant Avenue. It is a monastery, the Gold Mountain Sagely Monastery. Perhaps, this is where the Buddhist nun is from.

I stopped in front of this monastery long enough to read what they had posted on their window. Basically, it talks about becoming enlightened by doing good deeds and reciting the "Namo Amitabha Buddha" mantra daily, while facing the West, for as many times as possible to help end one's sufferings through many reincarnations, kinda like the Zhunti Mantra that I recite daily. Maybe, I should incorporate this mantra into the others that I am presently doing--it can only do good, karmic merit and suchlike. 

-

Lo and behold! There it was, on Jackson street, the "all-you-can-eat" dim sum buffet restaurant, as shown below:

-

Unfortunately for me, the dim sum buffet restaurant was closed. It had gone out of business! Waah ... ( sob, sniff ), why is there no "all-you-can-eat" Chinese buffet restaurant in Chinatown? Why? I mean, it's Chinatown after all. Don't tell me that Chinese people don't eat at Chinese buffets!!!

I walked as far down as the intersection of Pacific and Grant Avenues. Then, I turned around.

I ate lunch at Food Express, two doors away from Eastern Bakery. I had the 3 combo meal ( Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Pork, and Tofu w/ Vegetables ) served with Fried Rice. And I ordered a 20.0 oz bottle of Deja Blue Water to go with it. I paid $9.42 for my meal ( and I was hungry an hour later ).

Then I went up and down Grant Avenue looking for the store where I saw something yesterday but didn't buy: a pick-up/reaching tool that was on sale for $2.99; normally, it sells for about six times that price ). I finally found the store, Far East Flea Market. There are many interesting items offered for sale at this store. I was tempted to buy a key ring made with an insect preserved in a lucite block. But I felt pity for the poor little creatures that were killed simply so that greedy, irresponsible people could profit from the insects' misfortune.

I met the Buddhist nun once again inside the Far East Flea Market. We greeted each other and shook hands.

I had my purchase ( $3.25 total ) put in a bag and was charged an additional 11 cents for the plastic bag--'forgot about that new law.

I stood across the street, in front of Eastern Bakery, when I took this photo after I made my purchase.

-

After I took the above photo, I went inside the Eastern Bakery to buy a Rice Cake, a bag of crystallized Sweet Potato and a bag of crystallized carrots, all for $3.75.

On my way back to the hotel, I encountered a homeless young, white couple sitting on the sidewalk of Old Saint Mary's Church ( c/o Grant Avenue and California Street ) and begging for money. I gave them two bucks.

When I got back into my hotel room, I took a photo of the same kind of soap that miraculously appeared this morning so that you'll have a better idea of what it looked like. I couldn't use the flash because I put my camera in Macro Mode. See the picture below for reference:

-

The picture below is of the pick-up/grabbing tool that I bought at the Far East Flea Market. I set it on top of the radiator heater. I was gonna use the flash but my camera's batteries had ran low on their charge. And I was just too impatient to put some fresh batteries in.

-

And I ate the Rice Cake and had some of the crystallized Sweet Potato and Carrots because I was hungry once again.

A little later tonight, I walked down Grant Avenue, turned right on Post Street and left on Powell Street to have dinner at Burger King Restaurant, 35 Powell Street, around 8:50 p.m. I ordered the # 5 combo (  BK Double Stacker Cheeseburger, small Fries and a 16.9 oz bottle of Nestle Pure Life Water ). I paid $7.17 for my meal.

After my meal, I went to the Westfield Shopping Mall on Market Street to see a movie at the CENTURY SAN FRANCISCO CENTRE 9 AND XD on the 5th floor.

The time and date stamp on this photo is wrong because I forgot to reset it after I changed the batteries. This photo shows the shopping mall's directory on the 1st floor.

-

The time and date stamp on this photo is wrong because I forgot to reset it after I changed the batteries. I took this photo on the 4th floor before taking the escalator. To the right of where I stood is the new Martin Yan's M.Y. China Restaurant--'nope, it's not a Chinese buffet. Too bad ....

-

I went to see the 10:00 p.m. show of THE SAPPHIRES, PG-13 ( 1 hr & 39 min ) in auditorium 9, 3rd row ( counting from the front ), 6th column ( counting from the left ). The price of admission was $11.25. I didn't buy anything at the concessions counter. There were only three people in the audience, myself included. But it was an enjoyable movie based on a True Story. I would recommend that you go see this movie since all three people in the audience liked it.

Near the end of the movie, I started experiencing painful gas build-up--'must've been the cheeseburger that I ate two hours prior to this time.

As I walked down Market Street towards Grant Avenue, I noticed that all the female mannequins in a bunch of store display windows had erect nipples! It was kind of chilly out tonight--but erect nipples on female mannequins?!?!?! Come on! it doesn't even make any sense for them to have nipples in the first place.

When I walked up on Grant Avenue, I decided to make a right on Sutter Street to see if the 7-11 store was open all night long. Yup, it is a 24-hour store.

And I really needed to get back to my hotel room because of my painful gas! But I just had to stop at the Banana Republic's store window display long enough to take the following picture:

The time and date stamp on this photo is wrong because I forgot to reset it after I changed the batteries.

-

In the picture above, you can clearly see the erect nipples on the female mannequin BUT YOU DON'T SEE THE MALE MANNEQUINS SPORTING AN ERECTION, do you? Talk about a sexist window display!!! If female mannequins are allowed to show their erect nipples, I say that male mannequins should be allowed to sport an erection, too! It's only fair. Let's form a committee, the Fair and Equitable Display of Mannequin Erections ( FEDME for short ), and have Congress pass a Bill to have all mannequins treated equally, regardless of whether they are headless or not.

I got back in my hotel room just in time ....

*